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Donald Macleod explores the letters Beethoven wrote to three of his closest friends. Today his selection includes a secret admission by Beethoven about his hearing and the details of a petty argument that gets blown out of all proportion. The letters are read by Adrian Lester.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive correspondence. Today, Beethoven writes to three of his close friends. Those who knew him were ready to acknowledge his genius, but they also knew he was quick to fly off the handle so a degree of understanding would be needed. Beethoven met Franz Wegeler when he was 12 years old and still living in Bonn. Wegeler became a highly respected physician, and we find Beethoven asking his advice over his many health problems. One of the last letters he wrote is an affectionate letter to Wegeler, a month or so before he died in March 1827. It is most likely that Wegeler introduced Beethoven to the von Breuning family. Beethoven became very friendly with the whole family, and after one of the sons, Stephan, took up a position in Vienna, their friendship developed even further, although not without the occasional upset along the way. A talented musician and a theologian, Carl Amenda, was someone with whom Beethoven felt able to reveal his most personal thoughts and anxieties.

Music includes:

arr. Matiegka: Serenade in D, Op 8
IV: Allegretto alla polacca
Verena Schoneweg, violin
Harald Schoneweg, viola
Volker Höh, guitar

Overture to Leonore
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
René Jacobs, conductor

Violin Sonata No 3 in E flat major, Op 12 No 3
I: Allegro con spirito
Isabelle Faust, violin
Alexander Melnikov, piano

String Quartet No 1 in F major, Op 18 No 1
IV: Allegro
Belcea Quartet